Nose tackle (2).Steve McLendon,Alameda Ta’amu, Hebron Fangupo .Al Woods is a lock as backup DE, but curiously has gotten more play as backup NT than Ta’amu or Fangupo. Don’t know if that is good or bad. Still think one of those two makes it, and right now that’s Ta’amu.

Defensive ends (4).Ziggy Hood, Brett Keisel, Cameron Heyward, Al Woods, Brian Arnfelt, Nick Williams. Arnfelt keeps showing stout play, and I’d like to see what he can do against higher level of competition from here out. Could be a real sleeper. Williams is back from the wounded and showed some of the promise we drafted him for by getting a nice sack. Both of these guys are interesting, and it will be difficult to sail them both through waivers.

Cornerbacks (6).Ike Taylor, Cortez Allen, William Gay, Curtis Brown, Josh Victorian, DeMarcus Van Dyke, Terry Hawthorn, Isaiah Green, Ryan Steed, Devin Smith, Ross Ventrone. Hawthorn sighting! Again, no one did much to separate from the pack, IMO. Victorian has some experience, Van Dyke has speed, Hawthorne has upside. Another 2 games may be necessary to make this call.

Safeties (4)Troy Polamalu, Ryan Clark, Shamarko Thomas, Robert Golden, Damon Cromartie-Smith.DC-S showed better and may be even with Golden. What Shamarko and Golden have over DC-S is that they can play some corner in a pinch. Still, this is a tight race.

Tomlin said Steelers rookie running back Le’Veon Bell will not play this weekend because of a mid-foot sprain, and there is no word if he will miss any regular season games. It appears very unlikely he will play again in the preseason even if the injury is not severe. Tomlin said Bell is slated to obtain a second opinion, which means the injury is definitely serious.